Dual driver ratchet wrench



Jan. 20, 1970 w. J. ROZMUS 3,490,317

DUAL DRIVER RATCHET WRENCH Filed April 14, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JFOZI77J16 Jan. 20, 1970 w. J. ROZMUS 3,490,317

DUAL DRIVER RATCHET WRENCH Filed April 14. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 if am w w INVENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,490,317 DUAL DRIVER RATCHET WRENCH Walter J. Rozmus, Hubbardsville, N.Y.,- assignor, by mesne assignments, to Utica Tool Company, Inc.,

Orangeburg, S.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 14, 1967, Ser. No. 630,857

Int. Cl. B25b 13/46 US. Cl. 81-62 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application discloses a reversible, dual purpose ratchet wrench having a supporting handle in which a pair of enmeshed tool drive gears are supported for rotation. Each of the drive gears is provided with a different size socket opening to receive socket tools having different size associated drive means. A reversible ratchet lock is associated with one of the drive gears for locking this gear as well as the other gear in fixed relation on one direction with respect to the operating handle for simultaneous rotation with the operating handle. The ratchet lock permits rotation of the operating handle with respect to the drive gears and associated tools in the opposite direction.

THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a dual purpose reversible ratchet wrench and more particularly to a reversible ratchet wrench that is adapted to receive tools having different types of drive members. The term different type as used herein and in the claims is intended to encompass drive members of different shape, different size or both different size and shape.

Reversible, manually operated ratchet wrenches are well known. Such wrenches conventionally have a drive member that is adapted to receive different socket wrenches or tools. These socket wrenches or tools have a variety of different types of detachable connections with the wrench handle for interchange of the tool applied to the wrench handle, the most common being of the malefemale connector type. In the most widely used of these male-female connectors the connecting elements have square cross sectional configuration. Even though this type drive connection is relatively common, different sizes are widely used. For example, the type wrenches most commonly sold have either a A", or /2" drive. These dimensions refer to the length of the side of the square. Oftentimes a given socket tool may be available in each different type or size drive connection, but frequently certain tools are available only in either the larger or the smaller sizes. Thus, for a mechanic to be able to use a complete variety of tools, it may be necessary for him to have two or more socket wrenches. Alternatively, adapters are used so that a tool having one type of drive connection may be used in combination with a wrench having a different type of drive connection. These adapters are generally unsatisfactory since they add considerable bulk to the wrench and assembled tool.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide a ratchet wrench that will accommodate tools having different types of drive connections without necessitating adapters.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved dual purpose reversible ratchet wrench.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a dual purpose ratchet wrench having a single ratchet lock mechanism for operating a plurality of different tool receiving drive connections.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A dual purpose reversible ratchet wrench embodying this invention is adapted to receive tools having at least two different types of detachable drive connections. The wrench comprises a supporting handle assembly in which first and second drive gears are supported for rotation. First and second tool drive means are associated with the first and second drive gears, respectively, for receiving tools having different drive connections. A driving relationship is establishedbetween the first'and second drive gears for simultaneous rotation of the'drive gears. A selectively operable reversible ratchet locking means cooperates with the first drive gear to lock the first drive gear with respect to the supporting handle assembly for rotation in a selected one direction upon rotation of the supporting handle assembly in the one direction. Since a driving relationship is established between the first and second drive gears, the second gear will be locked in a like manner. The ratchet locking means permits rotation of the supporting handle assembly in a direction opposite to the one direction without associated rotation of the first and second drive gears and their associated tool drive means in this opposite direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a reversible ratchet wrench showing a first embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, cross sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 3 and 4 are cross sectional views taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2, each view showing the reversible ratchet. locking means in one of its two positions.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view, with portions broken away, of a second embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In FIGURES 1-5 the reference numeral 11 indicates generally a dual purpose reversible ratchet wrench depicting a first embodiment of this invention. The ratchet wrench 11 is comprised of a supporting handle assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral 12, and having an elongated handle portion 13 that is integrally connected at one end to a tool supporting portion 14. The tool supporting portion 14 is formed with a pair of like size, generally cylindrical openings 15 and 16 (FIG URES 3 and 4) that extend through the portion 14 from one face to the other. Adjacent the opening 15, a somewhat smaller generally cylindrical opening 17 is formed.

A first drive gear 18 is supported for rotation within the cylindrical opening 15. The first drive gear 18 has a plurality of spur gear teeth 19 that engage the portionof the tool supporting portion 14 that defines the opening 15 to rotatably support the first drive gear 18 in the opening 15. Axially spaced cylindrical gea-r portions 21 and 22are formed on opposite sides of the gear teeth 19 and extend through enlarged openings 23 and 24 in spaced retaining plates 25 and 26. Snap rings 27 and 28 are received in circumferential grooves 29 and 31, respectively, formed in the gear portions .21 and 22. The snap rings 27 and 28 engage the outer surfaces of the retaining plates 25and 26 to hold these members in assembled relationship. In addition, the snap rings 27 and 28 maintain the retaining plates 25 and 26 in complementary shaped grooves 33 and 34 formed in opposite sides of the handle tool supporting portion 14. The first drive gear 18 is formed with a female tool receiving opening 32 extending therethrough, which opening is of a generally square cross sectional shape. 1

.Enmeshed with the gear teeth 19 are gear teeth 35 formed on a second drive gear 36 positioned within the opening 16. The gear teeth 35 engage the handle surface that defines the opening 16 so as to rotatably support the second drive gear 36 within the opening 16. The drive gear 36 has a pair of axially spaced cylindrical portions 37 and 38 on opposite sides of the gear teeth 35. The portions 37 and 38 extend through enlarged cylindrical bores 39 and 41, respectively, formed in the plates 25 and 26 adjacent and parallel to the bores 23 and 24. Snap rings 42 and 43 received in grooves 44 and 45 formed in the cylindrical portions 37 and 38 of the gear 36 adjacent the plates 25 and 26 aflix the gear 36 against axial movement but permit rotation within the supporting handle assembly 11 and act with the snap rings 27 and 28 to hold the parts in their assembled relationship. The drive gear 36 is formed with a female tool receiving opening 46 extending through its opposite faces and also having a generally square cross sectional configuration. The opening 46 is, however, considerably larger than the opening 32 in the first drive gear 18.

lIn order to lock the meshed drive gears 18 and 36 selectively against rotation with the supporting handle assembly 11, a releasable reversible ratchet locking mechanism, indicated generally by the reference numeral 51 is provided. The reversible ratchet locking mechanism 51 includes a pawl 52 having a pair of intersecting surfaces 53; and 54 disposed at the right angle to each other. The pawl 52 is fixed against rotation with respect to an actuating shaft 55 by means of a generally square section of the latter that is received in a complementary opening 56 formed in the pawl 52. On each side of the surfaces 53 and 54 the pawl 52 is formed with cylindrical segments 57 and 58 that are slidably engaged with the surface of the handle that defines the opening 17 to rotatably support the pawl 52 within the opening 17. The pawl 52. is axially retained within the opening 17 between the retaining plates 25 and 26.

One end of the actuating shaft 55 extends through an enlarged opening in the plate 25 and is formed with a section59 having a generally square configuration. The section 59 is received in a like shaped opening 61 formed in a flipper handle 62. The flipper handle 62 is fixed axially to the shaft 55 by a peened-over portion 63 of the latter. One end of the flipper handle 62 is formed with an arcuajteioperating portion 64.

A cylindrical bore 66 is formed in the handle portion 14 extending in a generally radial direction with respect to the openings 15, 16 and 17 and adjacent the latter. A hol- 1on7 bullet shaped plunger 67 is slidably received within the, bore 66 and is biased by means of a coil spring 68 into engagement with selected ones of the surfaces 53 and 54 of'the pawl 52.

Adjacent the outer faces of the surfaces 53 and 54, the pawl 52 is formed with a surface 71 from which a pair of ax iailly spaced teeth 72 and 73 extend. A selected one of the teeth 72 or 73 may be positioned in registry between a pair of the gear teeth 19 of the drive gear 18 through rotation of the-flipper lever 62. During this rotation, the pluriger 67 will be cammed against the action of the coil spring 68 so that it can engage a selected one of the surfaces 53 or 54.

OPERATION In operation any form of socket or other tool may be affixed to the operating handle 11 by inserting a male drive member having a square or suitable configuration in oiie of the drive gear openings 32 or 46, depending upon the size of its male portion. This tool may be rotated in either direction upon rotation of the supporting handle assembly 12 by selectively moving the flipper lever 62 to the desired angular position. If counterclockwise rotation is desired, as viewed in FIGURES 3 and 4, the flipper lever 62 is rotated to position the pawl 52 as shown in FIGURE 3, Upon subse uent rotation of the supporting handle assembly 12 in the counterclockwise direction, the pawl tooth 72 will be received between the teeth 19 of the first drive gear 18 and prevent rotation of the supporting handle assembly 12 with respect to the drive gear 18. Since the drive gear 36 is enmeshed with the drive gear 18 it will also be restrained against relative rotation when the handle 12 is rotated in this direction. After a certain degree of counterclockwise movement, the supporting handle 12 may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as is well known in the ratchet wrench art. During this rotation, the tool will preclude its associated drive gear from rotating. The pawl 52, however, may rotate along with the actuating shaft in a clockwise direction carnrningthe plunger 67 outwardly and compressing the coil spring 68. The pawl tooth 72 will then be received between a different pair of gear teeth 19 and when the supporting handle assembly 12 is again rotated in a counterclockwfise direction, the associated tool will be rotated with thehandle 12.

If rotation in the opposite sense is desired, the flipper lever 62 is rotated to rotate the shaft 55 and pawl 52 in such a manner as to bring the pawl tooth 73 into engagement between the gear teeth 19 (FIGURE 4). The drive gears 18' and 36 will then be fixed for rotation with the supporting handle assembly 12 in a clockwise direction in the manner opposite that previously described.

Since the tool receiving openings 32 and 46, of the drive gears 18 and 36, respectively, extend through both faces of these drive gears the tool may be fixed adjacent either face of the ratchet wrench 11. In addition, tools of different size drives may be accommodated since the drive gears 18 and 36 have different size openings.

SECOND EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In the previously described embodiment, the drive gears and ratchet lock mechanism are maintained in position in the supporting handle assembly between a pair of spaced retainer plates. The embodiment shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 is generally similar to the previously described embodiment, but only one such retainer plate is employed. In this embodiment a supporting handle assembly 81 is provided with an elongated handle portion, which is not shown in the drawings but may be considered to be the same as that shown in the previously described embodiment. Two like size generally cylindrical cavities 83 and 84 are for-med in parallel relationship in the supporting portion 82. A smaller cylindrical cavity 85 is positioned adjacent the cavity 83 and parallel to it. At one end, the cavities 83, 84 and 85 are closed by an integral side wall 86 of the handle portion 82. The opposite side of the cavities 83, 84 and 85 are closed by a plate 87 that is received in a complementary recess formed in the handle portion 82. First and second drive gears 88 and 89 are received in the cavities 83 and 84 and have spur gear teeth 91 and 92 that engage the portion of the handle portion 82 that defines these cavities to rotatably support the gears therein. The gear 88 has cylindrical portions 93 and 94 formed at opposite sides'of the gear teeth 91 and which extend through enlarged bores 95 and 96 formed in the handle wall 86 and plate 87, respectively. Snap rings 97 and 98 are received 'in grooves 99 and 101 formed in the respective cylindrical portions to axially retain .the gear 88 within the cavity 83 and to retain the plate 87 in assembled relationship to the handle portion 82.

The gear 89 also has cylindrical portions 102 and 103 that extend through enlarged bores 104 and 105 formed in the handle Wall 86 and plate 87, respectively. Snap rings '106 and 107 are received in grooves 108 and 109, respectively, to axially position the gear 89 and to hold the plate 87 in assembled relationship Within the recess 84.

As in the previously described embodiment, socket openings 111 and 112 are formed in the drive gears 88 and 89, respectively, to receive complementary male socket portions of various tools. In addition, a ratchet lock mechanism 113 is provided for selectively retaining the gears 88 and 89 against rotation in selected directions. The ratchet lock mechanism 113 is comprised of a pawl 114 that has spaced cylindrical segments 115 and 116 that engage the portion of the handle that defines the opening 85 to journal the pawl 114 therein. As in the previously described embodiment, the pawl 114 has a pair of spaced locking teeth 117 and 118 that are adapted to selectively engage the gear teeth 91. A bullet shaped plunger 121 supported within a bore 122 in the handle portion 81 and is urged into engagement with a selected one of spaced flat surfaces 123 and 124 formed on the Y pawl 114. The plunger 121 is maintained in this relationship by means of a spring 125.

The pawl 124 is formed with a square shaped opening 126 in which a complementary portion of an actuating shaft 127 is fixed against rotation. The shaft 127 has a small end portion that extends through an enlarged bore 128 in the wall 86. This shaft portion terminates in a generally square end 129 that is received in a complementary opening in an actuating lever 131 and is axially fixed thereto by peened over portion 132.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 is the same as the operation of the previously described embodiment and will not be described again in detail. It should be readily apparent that this embodiment also shares the advantages of the previously described embodiment.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dual purpose reversible ratchet wrench comprising a handle assembly, said handle assembly including a tool supporting section and an elongated handle portion projecting upwardly away from said tool supporting section, a first drive gear supported for rotation by said handle assembly, first tool drive means associated with said first drive gear and adapted for rotation therewith, a second drive gear supported for rotation by said handle assembly and meshingly engaged with said first drive gear, second tool drive means associated with said second drive gear and adapted for rotation therewith, said first and second tool drive means defining female openings of generally the same cross sectional shape, with one of said openings being larger than the other thereof, selectively reversible ratchet locking means comprising a pawl having spaced interengaging members and first and second surfaces spaced from said members, and a spring biased retaining member adapted to selectively engage said surfaces, said pawl being rotatably supported on said tool supporting section and having cooperable operating lever means for rotating said pawl and bring a selected one of said interengaging members into engagement with said first drive gear for establishing a locking relationship therewith.

2. A dual purpose reversible rotatable wrench as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tool supporting section defines a pair of parallel, generally cylindrical cavities, which includes at least one bearing plate for closing one end of each of said cavities, wherein each of said drive gears is formed with a cylindrical portion extending through enlarged bores in said bearing plate, and which includes snap ring means received in recess on said cylindrical portions for retaining said bearing plate, said drive gears and said tool supporting section of said handle assembly in assembled condition.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 376,584 1/1888 Cone 8162 X 1,072,980 9/1913 Owen 8158.1 1,795,150 3/1931 Slazes 81-57 2,482,387 9/1949 Veneman 8l--52.4 2,542,323 2/ 1951 Gearhart 81-63.l X

JAMES L. JONES, JR., Primary Examiner 

